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Zena Hitz

Tutor at St. John''s College, author of Lost in Thought and A Philosopher Looks at the Religious Life. Her work explores intellectual formation and the intersection of philosophy and religion.

Top 10 podcasts with Zena Hitz

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13 snips
Apr 6, 2023 • 54min

A philosopher takes on religious life

What would drive someone to renounce all their possessions, relationships, and ambitions to join a religious community? Sean talks with Zena Hitz, whose new book A Philosopher Looks at the Religious Life explores this question — drawing from her own experience. They discuss the occasionally perplexing relationship between faith and reason, why Hitz thinks the act of renunciation is the pinnacle of Christian belief, and why the radicalism at the heart of Christianity seems so absent from mainstream practice.Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray AreaGuest: Zena Hitz, (@zenahitz) author; tutor, St. John's CollegeReferences:  A Philosopher Looks at the Religious Life by Zena Hitz (Cambridge; 2023) Lost In Thought: The Hidden Pleasures of an Intellectual Life by Zena Hitz (Princeton; 2020) The Madonna House in Combermere, Ontario, Canada Confessions by St. Augustine (401 AD) Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (1866)  Enjoyed this episode? Rate The Gray Area ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts.Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of The Gray Area. Subscribe in your favorite podcast app.Help keep this show and all of Vox's journalism free by making a gift to Vox today: bit.ly/givepodcastsThis episode was made by:  Producer: Erikk Geannikis Engineer: Patrick Boyd Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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12 snips
Jun 15, 2020 • 1h 45min

Zena Hitz, "Lost in Thought: The Hidden Pleasures of an Intellectual Life" (Princeton UP, 2020)

Author Zena Hitz discusses the hidden joys of intellectual pursuits, from reading in a Swiss patent office to transformative reading experiences in prisons. The podcast explores the importance of genuine leisure activities during lockdowns and the value of intellectual engagement in bridging diverse perspectives. It also delves into the significance of intellectual humility, contemplation, and dignity in education and society, showcasing how intellectual pursuits can elevate individuals from all backgrounds.
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10 snips
Dec 1, 2024 • 1h 1min

Zena Hitz: reading the Great Books

Zena Hitz, a philosopher and tutor at St. John’s College, passionately discusses her love for the Great Books and their impact on personal growth. She shares insights on Shakespeare’s complex relationships, emphasizing how age alters our understanding of his themes. Zena advocates for the value of direct engagement with literature over secondary sources. The conversation also touches on the nostalgic magic of children’s literature, her reflections on immersive education, and the hidden virtues of nuns in society.
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5 snips
Feb 4, 2025 • 1h 48min

The Pleasures of an Intellectual Life w/ Zena Hitz

In this engaging conversation, Zena Hitz, a tutor at St. John's College and author of 'Lost in Thought', explores the vibrant essence of the intellectual life. She challenges the stereotype of intellectualism as dull, sharing personal anecdotes that highlight how joy and curiosity can stem from everyday experiences. Hitz reflects on the transformative power of liberal arts education and the importance of discomfort in deep learning. She emphasizes the intersection of intellectual pursuits with spirituality, advocating a holistic approach to understanding beauty and truth.
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Jun 2, 2020 • 26min

Zena Hitz

Zena Hitz, a Tutor at St. John's College and author of "Lost in Thought," shares her insights on the joy of intellectual exploration. She discusses how temperament shapes philosophical inquiry, mixing seriousness with playful argumentation. Zena recounts her transformative journey after leaving academia, finding freedom outside competitive pressures. The conversation delves into existential fears and authenticity, linking personal values to broader philosophical themes. Listeners are invited to explore these ideas further through literature and her new book.
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Apr 23, 2024 • 0sec

Whatever happened to Contemplation? Zena Hitz and Matthew Barrett

Educator Zena Hitz and an unknown guest discuss the crisis of prioritizing practicality over deeper learning in modern education. They explore the importance of pursuing activities for their intrinsic value and the role of contemplation in finding meaning and purpose. The podcast delves into Augustine's influence on the speaker's life, the transformative nature of philosophical texts, the contrast between shallow spectacles and genuine pursuits, and the significance of humility in society.
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Nov 10, 2023 • 34min

Philosophy And The Religious Life | Doctor Zena Hitz

Dr. Zena Hitz, a Tutor at St. John's College, discusses the significance of religious life, the concept of impermanence and its meaning, the sacrifice of A Lot of Petros, renouncing worldly possessions, the challenge of finding meaning in a transient world, and the pursuit of happiness and the transience of life.
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Oct 27, 2023 • 50min

Zena Hitz on The Meaning of Life, and Religion (Episode 90)

Zena Hitz discusses her book 'A philosopher looks at the religious life' in this conversation. They delve into meaning, Christianity, Stoicism, wholeheartedness, abandonment, devotion, service, happiness, freedom, and Nietzsche.
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Apr 26, 2023 • 1h 13min

Intellectual Life In Dark Times | Zena Hitz

Zena Hitz discusses intellectual life in dark times by exploring resistance through poetry, the impact of language on liberation, personal growth through diverse study, breaking free from societal constraints, and the value of stories from adversity in education.
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Oct 28, 2020 • 42min

#656: The Hidden Pleasures of Learning for Its Own Sake

When we typically think about learning, we tend to think about being in a structured school, and doing it for some reason -- to get a grade, to get a degree, to get a certain job. But my guest today says that if we want to live a truly flourishing life, we ought to make time for study and thought long after we leave formal education behind, and embrace learning as something wonderfully useless. Her name is Zena Hitz and she's the author of Lost in Thought: The Hidden Pleasures of an Intellectual Life. We begin our conversation with how the unique Great Books curriculum at St. John's College works, and how Zena got her undergraduate degree there and then went on to pursue a more traditional academic path, only to discover the downsides of the modern university system and be drawn back to St. John's, where she now teaches. From there we turn to what Zena argues are the hidden pleasures of the intellectual life, which include learning for its own sake as opposed to doing it to advance some goal, developing a rich inner life, and embracing the idea of true leisure. We then discuss how thinking and studying for its own sake is different from watching TV or playing video games, and how it can create a resilience-building, inner-directed refuge from an externally-driven world. We end our conversation with how you can carve out space for contemplation amidst the overload and noise of modern life, the importance of finding a community that wants the same thing, and how to get started with deeper study and reflection by reading the Great Books. Get the show notes at aom.is/lostinthought.